CN101784210A

CN101784210A - Automated tightening shoe

Info

Publication number: CN101784210A
Application number: CN200880019973A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 格雷戈里·G·约翰逊
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Zero Lace LLC
Priority date: 2007-06-14
Filing date: 2008-06-11
Publication date: 2010-07-21
Anticipated expiration: 2028-06-11
Also published as: US7676957B2; WO2008156615A1; EP2155009A4; EP2155009B1; ES2610782T3; CN101784210B; US20080307673A1; JP5451604B2; CA2706851C; KR20100027217A; CA2706851A1; JP2010528811A; EP2155009A1; KR101448584B1

Abstract

An automated tightening shoe with crisscrossed laces or closure panel and a tightening mechanism which operates in one direction to cause automatic tightening of the crisscrossed laces or closure panel to tighten the shoe about a wearer's foot, and which can be released easily so that the shoe can be removed from the wearer's foot. An actuating wheel partially projecting from the rear sole of the shoe provides a convenient and reliable actuating means for movement of the automated tightening mechanism in the tightening direction.

Description

Automated tightening shoe

The related application of cross reference

The application is the U. S. application U.S.S.N.11/818 that submits on June 14th, 2007,370 part continuation application, and its full content is incorporated into this by reference.

Technical field

The present invention relates to a kind of footwear, especially a kind of automated tightening shoe.This footwear has the automated tightening system, and it comprises bonding mechanism, and this bonding mechanism is operated in one direction and made this footwear automated tightening on the person's of wearing pin, and also can be easily released so that these footwear easily take off from the person's of wearing pin.The present invention relates generally to the automated tightening shoe of motion or physical culture footwear kind, but principle of the present invention is applicable to the shoes of many other types and style.

Background technology

Footwear comprise footwear and boots, are a kind of important dress ornament class articles for use.Their protection foots and necessary support is provided when standing, walking or running the person of wearing.They also can provide aesthstic composition for the person of wearing individual.

Footwear comprise the sole of being made up of outer bottom and heel, its kiss the earth.Do not constitute and be connected with the upper of a shoe that surrounds foot on the footwear of slippers or sandals, it is connected with flap usually.At last, closing organ hauls the interior and outside portion of upper of a shoe so that footwear are fixed on the pin around the flap and the person's of wearing pin closely.

The common form of closing organ is the shoestring of the right-angled intersection between the interior and outside portion of upper of a shoe, the person of wearing with shoestring around the instep tension and fasten knot.Though simple and practical functional, when knot unclamped naturally around the person's of wearing pin, this shoestring needed to be fastened in a whole day and fastens again.This will bring puzzlement for common wearer.And child may not know how to tie a knot on shoestring, therefore needs father and mother or caregiver's help.In addition, be subjected to the elderly of arthritis puzzlement,, may feel pain or challenge exceedingly for footwear being fixed on the pin and with shoestring tension and knotting.

Footwear industry for many years adopted be used for fixing be the optional feature of shoestring, or footwear are fixed on the replacement device of wearing on the pin.Therefore, authorized the U.S. Patent No. 737,769 of Preston in 1903 and added the closing cap of carrying on the back across footwear, it makes up to be fixed on the upper of a shoe by eyelet and clasp.Authorizing the U.S. Patent No. 5,230,171 of Cardaropoli has used hook and eyelet combination so that closing cap is fixed on the upper of a shoe.Authorize Murr, the U.S. Patent No. 2,124,310 of Jr. discloses military hunting boot and has used shoestring, and in its zig zag is centered around and on a plurality of hooks on the outer upper of a shoe, and the last resort clamp jaws fastens, thereby need not to tie a knot again.Equally can be with reference to authorizing Zebe, the United States Patent(USP) Nos. 6,324,774 of Jr. and authorize people's such as Caberlotto 5,291,671, and by the disclosed U. S. application 2006/0191164 of people such as Dinndorf.Other article of footwear has been taked shoestring is fixed on Small clamp or folder latch mechanism on the appropriate location of shoes, and delaying by the pin applied pressure that is through shoe lining all day, this pressure can be broken knot on the shoe lace.Referring to, for example, authorize the United States Patent(USP) Nos. 5,335,401 of Hanson, authorize people's such as Borsoi 6,560,898, and authorize 6,671,980 of Liu.

Other manufactures a product and has saved shoestring fully.For example, ski boots often uses bracelet so that boot upper is fixed around pin and leg.Referring to, for example, authorize people's such as Gertsch United States Patent(USP) Nos. 3,793,749 and authorize people's such as Morrow 6,883,255.Simultaneously, authorize the U.S. Patent No. 5 of Seidel, 175,949 have disclosed a kind of ski boots, it has from the extended yoke of the part of upper of a shoe, described yoke can be at once be positioned at upper of a shoe another part on the main shaft drives mechanism tumble lock of " nose " of upper process and the pulling force that is used for adjusting synthetic latch mechanism.Owing to avoid shoestring to be frozen or by ice-bound needs, it is rational removing the outside shoestring of ski boots and replacement and the rigidity outer lock mechanism that boot upper engages of skiing.

A kind of different modes that is used for ski boots is the rope system that utilizes internal wiring, and it is tightened by the rotation ratchet and pawl mechanism that tightens rope, and therefore ski boots, tightly around the person's of wearing pin.Referring to, for example, authorize people's such as Morell U.S. Patent No. 4,660,300 and 4,653,204, authorize 4,748,726 of Schoch, authorize 4,937,953 of Walkhoff, and authorize 4,426,796 of Spademan.The instep band of authorizing 6,289,558 pairs of skating boots of U.S. Patent No. of Hammerslang has extended a kind of like this rotation ratchet and pawl bonding mechanism.This rotation ratchet and pawl bonding mechanism and inner rope combination also have been applied in sport footwear and the playshoes.Referring to, for example, authorize 5,157,813 of Carroll, authorize 5,327,662 and 5,341,583 of Hallenbeck, and authorize 5,325,613 of Sussmann.

Authorize people's such as Pozzobon U.S. Patent No. 4,787,124, authorize 5 of Schoch, 152,038, authorize 5 of Jungkind, 606,778, and authorize 7,076 of Sakabayashi, 843 have disclosed other specific embodiment of rotation bonding mechanism, and it is based on ratchet and pawl or travelling gear combination by manual or stay cord operation.It is complicated that these mechanisms need on the number of components of coordinated manipulation at them.

Also have other mechanism to can be used on shoes or the ski boots, be used for tightening the rope of inside or outside wiring.Authorize the United States Patent(USP) Nos. 4,937,952 of Olivieri, authorize 5,167,083 of Walkhoff, authorize 5,379,532 of Seidel, and authorize people's such as Jones 7,065,906 and instructed a kind of manually operated pivot rods that is provided with along rear upper-shoe.The U. S. application 2003/0177661 that Tsai submits to has disclosed a kind of manually operated slide mechanism that is provided with along rear upper-shoe, and it is with the shoestring tension of outside wiring.Can and authorize 5,381,609 of Hieblinger referring to the United States Patent(USP) Nos. 4,408,403 of authorizing Martin equally.

Other shoemaking person has designed the footwear that comprise bonding mechanism, and this bonding mechanism is started by the person's of wearing pin rather than hand.For example, authorize and disclosed a kind of pull bar that is arranged in the footwear in the U.S. Patent No. 6,643,954 of Voswinkel, it is depressed to tighten the band across upper of a shoe by pin.At the United States Patent(USP) Nos. 5,983,530 and 6,427,361 of authorizing Chou, and authorize people such as Rotem 6,378,230 in, internal wiring shoestring rope is braked by kindred organization.Yet this pull bar or push pedal possibility pin of no use are applied to the constant pressure on it, and this can cause tightening rope or belt and unclamp.In addition, step on all day in pull bar or push pedal, dress can feel under the weather.The U.S. Patent No. 5,839,210 of authorizing people such as Bernier adopts diverse ways to spur several bands across the footwear back of the body, and it has used and has been positioned at the footwear outside, has the rechargeable battery haulage gear of related electro-motor.But this battery-operated device can cause short circuit in a humid environment, or the person of wearing is got shocked.

Footwear industry has also been produced to comprise and has been replaced shoestring The children's shoes of Velcro band and adult shoe.This band that extends from interior upper of a shoe easily is fastened on the Velcro Velcro sheet of the complementation that is fixed on the side upper of a shoe.But when pin applied too big pressure, this Velcro Velcro closure member can frequently separate.This situation especially can occur in sport footwear and on foot on the boots.And Velcro Velcro closure member can be worn bad relatively soon, loses its reliable making capacity.In addition, much do not wear the person and think that it is ugly that Velcro Velcro band is used on the footwear on aesthetic.

The applicant Gregory G.Johnson has developed many article of footwear that contain automated tightening mechanism, this automated tightening mechanism is arranged in the compartment of sole or along the outer setting of footwear, be used for tightening the inside or the outside rope that are positioned at inboard or outside upper of a shoe, simultaneously, prevent that rope from undesired unclamping being taken place.This bonding mechanism can need a pair of clamping cam that engages with the rope of having tightened, the track slide mechanism, it is operated as ratchet and pawl so that it is tightening the direction motion, stop simultaneously and unclamping the direction slip, or twine the shaft assembly of shoestring rope with hand, its also have with release lever on the ratchet of engaged pawl, be used for preventing counter-rotating.The automated tightening mechanism of Johnson can operate by pulling rope or track slide mechanism, or is operated by brake bar that extends out from the sole rear portion or push pedal, is wherein pressing brake bar or push pedal with the rope that laces up one's shoes by relative ground of the person of wearing or floor.Related release lever can be by the person of wearing hand or the pin pressurization so that its fixed position from it breaks away from automated tightening mechanism take off shoes so that shoestring or rope unclamp.Referring to the U.S. Patent No. 6,032,387,6,467,194,6,896,128,7,096,559 and 7,103,994 of authorizing Johnson.

Yet the automated tightening system that designs up to now is not success and gratifying fully.In the automated tightening system of prior art main deficiency be they can not be from both sides all tightening shoe and make its fit with the person's of wearing pin fit, and when need be when the person's of wearing pin is taken off shoes, they lack any device that unclamps footwear fast.And they can meet with continually: (1) complexity, because they comprise many parts; (2) comprise expensive component, as the small-sized electric motor; (3) use the parts that need periodic replacement, as battery; Perhaps (4) existing parts need frequent maintenance.The aspect that these aspects and other are not mentioned has especially all shown, in order to obtain success and gratifying automated tightening shoe fully, also needs to do sizable improvement.

Therefore, provide a kind of and comprise the footwear of automated tightening mechanism or the other footwear product is favourable, automated tightening mechanism is wherein formed by minority functional unit simple designs, and the hand that described functional unit need not the person of wearing with pin is operated, for example the roller that extends out by the heel from sole.It is known that the roller that produces by the storage compartments maincenter from sole changes footwear into roller skate.Referring to, for example, authorize the United States Patent(USP) Nos. 6,926,289 of Wang and authorize 7,195,251 of Walker. There are this popular footwear to sell under the brand.Yet the roller skate of this convertible type does not comprise automated tightening mechanism, and it just uses roller to brake such mechanism separately.Use roller to do to substitute just for entertainment purposes.

Summary of the invention

The invention provides a kind of automated tightening shoe, its pin around the person of wearing is tightened closely, and need not the hand by the person of wearing, and can easily unclamp as required.This automated tightening shoe comprises integrated member or the upper of a shoe that sole and available any suitable material are made.This upper of a shoe comprises toe cap, heel, flap and interior and lateral wall portion.Provide a shoestring or a pair of shoestring to engage with a series of eyelets, these eyelets are on the reinforcing band at the edge of interior and outer upper of a shoe.This root or this pair shoestring by automated tightening mechanism in the mode of right-angled intersection across this flap pulling, with around the person's of wearing pin pulling should in and outer upper of a shoe, and closely this flap is leaned against on the person's of wearing the instep.Replacedly, closing plate can replace shoestring, and this closing plate is fixed to this interior upper of a shoe and extends across flap, and moves this outer upper of a shoe to by this automated tightening mechanism, or is spurred from both sides by this automated tightening mechanism.

This automated tightening mechanism assembly preferably is provided with in the chamber that is included in this sole, and comprises the rotatable shaft that is used for twining the joint rope that is tied on shoestring or the closing plate.Roller is connected to partly on this axle that extends from the back sole of footwear, therefore the person of wearing can on ground or floor, rotate this roller with tightening this automated tightening mechanism of direction upper offset spool.Have also be fixed to the ratchet on this ratchet in succession by engaged pawl, to prevent this counter-rotating in the release lever distal end.When the person of wearing uses preferably from release lever that heel extends out, yet, this ratchet is from producing with the maincenter that engages of the ratchet of this ratchet, makes the axle of this automated tightening mechanism freely to reverse and tightens rope to its ready position to discharge this, and allow shoestring or closing plate to unclamp.

Description of drawings

When considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, by the following detailed description of reference, other object and many attendant advantages among the present invention will be conspicuous, and also can be more readily understood, and identical Reference numeral is represented identical parts in the accompanying drawing in following explanation.

Fig. 1 is for having the vertical view of automated tightening shoe under its releasing orientation of right-angled intersection shoestring among the present invention;

Fig. 2 is the side view of the automated tightening shoe embodiment of Fig. 2 at cut-away section;

Fig. 3 is for having the vertical view of the automated tightening shoe of closing plate among the present invention;

Fig. 4 is the exploded perspective view of the parts of the automated tightening mechanism among the present invention;

Fig. 5 is the stereogram that does not have the automated tightening mechanism shaft assembly of driving wheel;

Fig. 6 is the side view that has the shaft assembly of driving wheel;

Fig. 7 is the stereogram at the bottom of the shell of automated tightening mechanism;

Fig. 8 is the inverted perspective view on the shell top of automated tightening mechanism;

Fig. 9 is the inverted perspective view of the release lever of automated tightening mechanism;

Figure 10 is the stereogram of release lever;

Figure 11 is the stereogram of the torsionspring of automated tightening mechanism; With

Figure 12 is the inverted perspective view of the cap of automated tightening mechanism.

The specific embodiment

Kind of the present invention provides a kind of automated tightening shoe that comprises wheel braking bonding mechanism, and this bonding mechanism is used for tightening the shoestring of right-angled intersection or tightens the closing plate that is used for around the person's of wearing pin pulling upper of a shoe.This automated tightening mechanism assembly preferably includes axle, and this is used for along tightening the be intertwined and connected joint rope of shoestring or closing plate of direction; Fixed idler whell, its preferably from the back sole portion of footwear give prominence to, to rotate this axle along tightening direction; And the fixed ratchet wheel that has ratchet, it is used for being bonded in succession the ratchet on the end of release lever, to prevent this counter-rotating.When the biasing release lever so that ratchet when the ratchet of ratchet breaks away from, this axle can freely reverse and restrict to unclamp this joint, thereby allows this shoestring or closing plate to unclamp.The invention provides and a kind ofly have few parts and reliable automated tightening mechanism in operation.

Based on purpose of the present invention, " footwear " are meant the footwear of any sealing, and it has and helps shoes to remain on upper of a shoe portion on the pin, includes but not limited to boots; Footware; The snowfield footwear; Skiing or Skis boots; Motion or physical culture footwear resemble sneak, tennis shoes, running shoe, golf shoes, on-slip shoes and basketball shoes; Skating boots, roller skate; Inline skate; Skateboard; Bowling shoes; Footwear or boots on foot on foot; The formal dress footwear; Playshoes; Sneakers; Pump; And orthopedics.

Although the present invention can be used for various footwear, only as exemplary purpose, the present invention describes the content of relevant sport footwear here in detail.The application of the automated tightening mechanism that this is not meant to limit the present invention in any manner in the footwear of other type that be fit to or that want.

Fig. 1 is that the automated tightening shoe 110 among the present invention is in the vertical view under the open mode, and Fig. 2 shows the side view of the automated tightening shoe 110 of bonding mechanism at part section.This automated tightening shoe 110 has sole 120, comprises flap 116, toe cap 113, and the integrated member of heel 118 or upper of a shoe 112, and reinforcing band pad 114, all these can be made of any suitable material of the final use that is used for the shoes application.

Toe cap 113 ends at flap 116, provide two

anchor buttons

122 and 124, it is fixing

shoestring

136 and 137 at one end respectively, as shown in the figure,

shoestring

136 and 137 is right-angled intersection on flap 116 then, and passes through shoestring eyelet 126,128,130 and 130 before passing shoestring retaining ring 142.After passing shoestring retaining ring 142, shoestring 136 passes the hole 146 on the reinforcing band pad 114, and advances backward by a part of managing 150, pipe 150 between the outside of upper of a shoe 112 and internal material by and down to heel.As shown in the figure, shoestring 137 passes the hole 144 on the reinforcing band pad 114, and backward by a pipe part of 148, pipe 148 also between the outside of upper of a shoe 112 and internal material by and down to heel part.But shoestring 136 is connected with 137 alternative ground and engages rope 160, engages the parts of rope 160 by pipe 162, and manage 162 between the outside of upper of a shoe and internal material by and down to the heel of upper of a shoe 112.

For the purposes of the present invention, can use an independent shoestring, as shown in Figure 1, the zone connects

anchor button

122 and 124 therebetween, makes the right-angled intersection ground, both ends of shoestring pass through eyelet.Alternately, the shoestring pattern can be used to replace the right-angled intersection pattern in a zigzag.In this zigzag structure, the shoestring that is fixed for example is fixed to the shoestring of anchor button 124, sequentially by eyelet 126,132 and hole 144, passes pipe 148 then, is fixed to automated tightening mechanism with the other end at it.

As shown in Figure 3, automated tightening shoe 110 alternately adopts closing plate 170 to replace right-angled intersection shoestring 136,137 or zigzag shoestring.Closing plate 170, and is fixed on the sole 120 along the

draw ring

178 and 180 of outer support-side by the

draw ring

174 and 176 along interior support-side at its leading section 172.Closing plate 170 covers flap 116.Simultaneously, the

draw ring

182 and 184 on top is fixed to respectively and engages on the

rope

190 and 192, engages

rope

190 and 192 and tightens closing plate 170 by automated tightening mechanism as described below.Alternately, in closing plate 170 can be fixed to along the one side on the upper of a shoe 186, and utilize then and engage rope 146 and pasted outer upper of a shoe 188 and spur.

The lower end of pipe 148,150,162 enters the chamber 200 of the sole 120 that is positioned at this automated tightening shoe 110.Be noted that for omitting the purpose that pipe needs, alternately, engaging rope 160 or shoestring 136,137 can be along the outside wiring of upper of a shoe among the present invention.

As among Fig. 2 more fully shown in, automated tightening mechanism 210 is arranged in the casing 200 that is fixed to casing substrate 202.Driving wheel 212 is fixed to automated tightening mechanism 210, and partly protrudes above the back sole part of footwear 110.Take turns 212 by roll drive on floor or ground, automated tightening mechanism 210 is rotated to tighten the position.Engage rope 190,192,160 and extend down into chamber 200, and be fixed to bonding mechanism 210 in their end, lacing up one's

shoes

136 and 137, or closing plate 170.As describing fully at this, release lever 214 preferably extends out from the rear upper-shoe of footwear 110, so that the means that make things convenient for that discharge this automated tightening mechanism to be provided.

Illustrate in greater detail this automated tightening mechanism 210 among Fig. 4.It comprises at the bottom of the shell 220 and shell top 222, spindle assemblies 224 be fixed at the bottom of the shell 220 and shell top 222 between.

Screw

226 and 227 is fixed at the bottom of the shell 220 with cap 222.Rely on cap 230 and

screw

232 and 233, release lever 214 is fixed in the shell top 222.The torsionspring 236 that is fixed to release lever 214 interacts with biasing release lever 214 with the inner surface of cap 230, make its enter with spindle assemblies 224 on the bonding station of ratchet 238 of ratchet 240.

As showing this main shaft 224 among Fig. 5 more fully.Its preferably include have the first axle part divide 242 and the second axle part divide 244 integral unit, this integral unit is formed by 10% RTP301 Merlon glass fibre or the casting of function identical materials.The end that through

hole

246 and 247 is used for

engaging rope

190 and 192 is fixed to axle 242 and 244.First ring flange 248 and second ring flange 250 cooperate with wing 252,254 etc., and driving wheel 212 is fixed to main shaft 224.Ratchet 240 and 256 also threaded

shaft

242 and 244 integral casts forms.This ratchet has

many teeth

248 and 258 that extend out from its periphery.

Alternately, this driving wheel and ratchet can be to twist with screw, are contained on the pivot or other mode is fixed to declutch shaft.Though the situation with two ratchets has been shown among the present invention, single ratchet, three ratchets or the situation of more a plurality of ratchets satisfy too.

Fig. 6 shows driving wheel 212 that is fixed to axle 242 and the ratchet 240 overall fixed relation that extends out from axle 242.Rolling from the heel portion of footwear 110 the driving wheel 212 that extends out axle 242 and ratchet 240 will be rotated in the mode of common direction.Driving wheel 212 should be made by carbamic acid (second) ester or the function identical materials of Shore 70A hardness.Preferably, this diameter of taking turns is 1 inch, and volume is 0.311 inch 3.Such wheel size will enough can be stretched from heel greatly, and can put into the interior casing 200 of sole of footwear 110.According to the application of size He its final use of footwear, the diameter range that driving wheel 212 can have is

Inch.

At the bottom of the shell as shown in Figure 7 220, it is preferably formed by 10% RTP301 Merlon glass fibre or the casting of function

identical materials.Ear

250 and 252 with threaded

screw

254 and 256 both ends of 220 at the bottom of the shell extend out.220 is feature with the portion of cutting away 260 that holds driving wheel 212 at the bottom of the shell.Driving wheel 212 must be able to rotate freely, and not with 220 rub at the bottom of the shell.262 and 263 ends for

axle

242 and 244, shoulder surface that limited by groove 264 and 265 provide bearing-surface, and cooperates with shell top 222 with guarantee axle 224 be fixed on by at the bottom of the shell 220 and shell push up in 222 casings that limit.Shoulder 270a, 270b, 270c and 270d provide additional means for bolster 242 and 244.Well

slot

272 and 274 at the bottom of the shell in 220 holds the

ratchet

240 and 256 on the shaft assembly 240.At last, in the time of around

joint rope

190 and 192 is wrapped in

axle

242 and 244, well slot 276 and 278 holds to engage restricts 190 and 192.

The downside on shell top 222 has been shown among Fig. 8.Ear 280 and 282 has the through

hole

254 and 286 that is used to pass

screw

226 and 227, shell top 222 is fixed at the bottom of the shell 220.The end of groove 290 and 292 fixed axis 242 and 244.This axle is by shoulder 294,296,298a, 298b, 298c and 298d supporting.Cut away zone 300 and hold driving wheel 212.Well

slot

302 and 304 holds ratchet 240 and 256.Well

slot

306 and 308 holds to engage restricts 150 and 145, is wrapped in when them on the

axle

242 and 244 of shaft assembly 224.

Illustrate in greater detail release lever 214 among Fig. 9 and 10.It is preferably formed by 10% RTP301 Merlon glass fibre or the casting of function identical materials.The one end has bar 310, has two

arms

312 and 314 at the other

end.Pivot pin

316 and 318 mid points from release lever 214 extend out.

From Fig. 4 can, by

pivot pin

316 and 318 is installed in respectively in

groove

320 and 322, and release lever 214 is installed in the top on shell top 222.Simultaneously,

arm

312 and 314 extends downward the through hole 324 and 326 in the shell top, thereby the ratchet end 330 of

release lever arm

312 and 314 and 332 can be in abutting connection with the

ratchet

258 and 238 of

ratchet

256 and 240.

Replace the release lever described in the application, any other can use the relieving mechanism of ratchet from the ratchet disengaging of ratchet.Alternative possibly embodiment includes but not limited to push button, draws string or draws key etc.

Back-moving spring 236 preferably should be made by 0.020 stainless steel music wire or function identical materials.As among Figure 11 more fully shown in, it comprises intermediate support face 230, supporting

arm

232 and 234, and torsion ring 236 and 238.As shown in Figure 4, torsionspring 236 is installed in the top of release lever 214, so torsion ring 236 and 298 is attached on the pivot pin 316 and 315 of release lever.The supporting arm 232 of

torsionspring

214 and 234

shoulders

240 and 242 in abutting connection with release arm 214.Alternately, compression spring or the leaf spring release lever ratchet that also is used to setover engages its ratchet with the ratchet of automated tightening mechanism.

Illustrate in greater detail cap 230 among Figure 12.It is preferably formed by 10% RTP301 Merlon glass fibre or the casting of function identical materials,

post

246 and 248 is a feature with the through

hole

250 and 252 that gets out, therefore,

screw

232 and 233 can be installed at the bottom of the shell 220 with cap 230 by screw 254 and 256 (see figure 7)s.The

pivot pin

316 and 318 of release lever 214 is trapped between the groove 322 and 324 on the groove 260 and 262 (Figure 12) of cap 230 and shell top 222, so release lever 214 can change by axle in automated tightening mechanism.Along the inner surface of cap 230, shoulder 264 provides adjacent surface for the supporting part 230 of torsionspring 236.Replace screw rod, the fastening means that other is fit to also can be used for fixing the chamber parts of this automated tightening mechanism as glue or sonic soldering.

In operation, the person of wearing can determine the position of its pin, thereby the driving wheel 212 that extends out from sole 120 rear portions of automated tightening shoe 110 will touch on floor or the ground.By the health of rolling heel away from him, driving wheel 212 is rotation in the counterclockwise direction.Shaft assembly 224 and

combination axle

242 and 244 rotation equally in the counterclockwise direction, thus

shoestring

136 and 137 is twined around

axle

242 and 244 in the chamber of automated tightening mechanism.Do like this,

shoestring

136 and 137 will be tightened by the pin around the person of wearing in footwear 110.The ratchet end 330 of

release lever

214 and 332 can one after the other engage with the

ratchet

238 and 258 of each

ratchet

240 and 256, turns clockwise to prevent ratchet, otherwise will make

axle

242 and 242 rotations to unclamp shoestring.The adjacent surface 264 of torsionspring 236 supporting caps 230 inboards and the

shoulder

240 and 244 of release lever 214, with the ratchet end of biasing release lever 214 so that its engage with hook tooth.

If the person of wearing want to unclamp

shoestring

136 and 137 or closing plate 170 taking off footwear 110, he only need be to pressing down release lever 214, this release lever 214 preferably extends out from the back sole of footwear.As described above, so just can overcome the bias voltage of torsionspring 236,

ratchet end

330 and 332 is broken away from from 256 ratchet of ratchet 240.Along with

axle

242 and 244 rotates in the clockwise direction,

shoestring

136 and 137 or closing plate 170 will unclamp naturally.

Automated tightening mechanism 210 among the present invention, simpler than other known devices in the industry in design.Therefore, all only need less parts in the assembling when making footwear and in the decomposition after the footwear use.Another significant advantage of the embodiment 210 of automated tightening mechanism is among the present invention,

shoestring

136 and 137 and they can be passed down through the heel part of upper of a shoe in conjunction with guide wire, with in replacing passing diagonally and outer upper of a shoe.This feature has greatly been simplified the manufacturing of footwear 110.And, by automated tightening mechanism 210 being provided with, can use less chamber 200, and whole unit can embed more easily and adhere in the less groove of sole inside in the mill near the heel of sole 120 inside.

As long as the use that it can extend out and not hinder shoes normally to walk or run from sole, the diameter of wheel brake 212 can have size.Simultaneously, it must be put in the casing of automated tightening mechanism.It should have

The diameter of inch preferably has 1 inch diameter.It can be made by flexible and durable material, as polyurethane rubber, synthetic rubber or similar polymeric rubber material.

Shoestring 136,137 among the present invention and joint rope 190,192,162 can be made by any suitable material, include but not limited to

Fiber,

Kevlar fabric, nylon, polyester or wire.It is preferably made by the Spectra kernel that has the outside braiding of polyester.Ideally, engage rope and can have taper profile, compare with shoestring 136,137, its transmission in pipe 148,150,162 will make things convenient for.The intensity that engages rope and/or shoestring is within 200-1000 pound test weight.

Pipe 148,150,162 can be by any suitable material manufacturing, include but not limited to nylon or

Special teflon polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).It should be durable, with protection joint rope or shoestring, can represent its self-lubricating property simultaneously, the friction when passing pipe to reduce joint rope or shoestring when operating automated tightening mechanism.

Above-mentioned detailed description and accompanying drawing provide automated tightening mechanism and the structure of footwear and the complete description of method of operating among the present invention.Yet only otherwise depart from the present invention's spirit essence and scope, the present invention can use in other different combination, correction form, embodiment and environment.For example, engaging rope can connect up along the outside of upper of a shoe, rather than the inboard wiring of the upper of a shoe between interior and cladding material.And automated tightening mechanism can be arranged on the diverse location of the sole inside except the rear portion, for example mid point or toe cap.In fact, automated tightening mechanism can be fixed to the footwear outside, rather than sole inside.Also can use a plurality of driving wheels, drive the common axis of automated tightening mechanism.Though brake has been described as wheel, it also can adopt any multiple other possible shapes, as long as they can be along plane rolling.Therefore, this specification and do not mean that and limit the invention to disclosed this particular form.

Claims (according to the modification of the 19th of treaty)

Receive (2008.11.24) on November 24th, 2008 by international office.

1. automated tightening shoe, it comprises:

(a) footwear, described footwear have sole and are connected to the upper of a shoe of this sole, and described upper of a shoe comprises toe cap, heel, inside portion and outside portion;

(b) be connected to the shutoff device of the inside portion and the outside portion of this upper of a shoe, be used for spurring described inside portion and described outside portion around the pin of the inside that is placed on described footwear;

(c) be fixed to the bonding mechanism of described footwear inside, this bonding mechanism comprises the axle that has driving wheel, and described driving wheel is connected to described axle rigidly and partly extends outside the footwear;

(d) at least one engages rope, and described at least one joint rope is connected to described shutoff device at the one end, and is connected to described bonding mechanism at its other end;

(e) by means of partly extending the outer relative ground of described driving wheel of described footwear or the rotation of other crust, make the described axle rotation of described bonding mechanism, to spur this joint rope along tightening direction, thereby spur described shutoff device and inboard and outside upper of a shoe portion around pin, the safety device that functionally is connected to this bonding mechanism is used to stop described axle counter-rotating, unclamps to prevent described joint rope; And

(f) functionally be connected to the releasing device of described safety device, the selectivity that described releasing device is used for described safety device breaks away from, so that described axle can reverse, thereby described shutoff device is unclamped.

2. automated tightening shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shutoff device comprises:

(a) a plurality of guiding devices that are arranged along the marginating compartment of inboard and outside upper of a shoe; With

(b) at least one shoestring, described at least one shoestring extends through guiding device alternately with right-angled intersection or flexuose mode, and the end of this shoestring is connected on the described joint rope.

3. automated tightening shoe as claimed in claim 2, wherein said guiding device comprise at least one shoestring eyelet.

4. automated tightening shoe as claimed in claim 2, wherein said guiding device comprises at least one hook.

5. automated tightening shoe as claimed in claim 1, it further comprises the chamber in the sole, described chamber is used for holding described bonding mechanism.

6. automated tightening shoe as claimed in claim 5, wherein said chamber are arranged on the position of tight heel in abutting connection with these footwear.

7. automated tightening shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bonding mechanism can be connected the outside of these footwear.

8. automated tightening shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said safety device comprises:

(a) have at least one ratchets of a plurality of ratchets, described at least one ratchet is connected to the described axle of described bonding mechanism with fixing relation; With

(b) be connected to the pawl device of described releasing device, described pawl device engages with ratchet along described ratchet, to prevent the described axle counter-rotating of described bonding mechanism.

9. automated tightening shoe as claimed in claim 1, it further comprises biasing device, described biasing device is used for forcing described releasing device to engage with described safety device.

10. automated tightening shoe as claimed in claim 9, wherein said biasing device comprises torsionspring.

11. automated tightening shoe as claimed in claim 1, it further comprises the casing that surrounds described bonding mechanism.

12. automated tightening shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said releasing device comprises pivotable bar.

13. automated tightening shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said releasing device comprises button.

14. automated tightening shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said releasing device comprises draw ring.

15. automated tightening shoe as claimed in claim 1, it further comprises at least one guiding tube, and described at least one guiding tube is arranged in the upper of a shoe, is used for holding this joint rope.

16. automated tightening shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said footwear comprise sport footwear.

17. automated tightening shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said footwear comprise footwear on foot.

18. automated tightening shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said footwear comprise boots.

19. automated tightening shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said footwear comprise playshoes.

Claims

1. automated tightening shoe, it comprises:

(c) be fixed to the bonding mechanism of described footwear, this bonding mechanism comprises the axle that has driving wheel, and described driving wheel is connected to described axle rigidly and extends outside the footwear;

(e) rely on the rotation of extending this outer driving wheel of these footwear, make the described axle rotation of described bonding mechanism, to spur this joint rope along tightening direction, thereby spur described shutoff device and inboard and outside upper of a shoe portion around pin, the safety device that functionally is connected to this bonding mechanism is used to stop described axle counter-rotating, unclamps to prevent described joint rope; And